Header or upsetting machine



Aug. 7, 1934. R. L. wlLcox HEADER OR UPSETTING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. l.. wlLcox 1,968,921

HEADER OR UPSETTING MACHINE Aug. 7, 1934.

Filed May l5, 19.33 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR.

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ug. 7, 1934. R. l.. wlLcox 1,968,921

HEADER OR UPSETTING MACHINE Filed May 15, 193s 4 sheets-sheet :s

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HEADER OR UPSETTING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mxx TR'N

Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEADER 0R UPSETTING MACHINE Application May l5, 1933, Serial No. 671,167

14 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to improvements in headers or upsetting machines, and refers more particularly to that type of such machine wherein plural operations are performed upon-a workpiece or blank while held in a single solid die, such mechanism being generally known in the art as a two, three or four blow header.

It is the object of this invention, among other things, to provide a plural blow machine of the type indicated, with a plurality of dies and perform a plurality of operations upon a workpiece or blank while in each die, by a series of tools that are associated with the gate and successively presented thereto, to provide mechanism that will after the completion of all the series of operations on each blank eject the blanks from the dies and in some cases transfer them to another die between the time of withdrawal of the gate and its next movement, during which time a new blank is presented to the first die and the partially completed blanks are presented to the other dies; a further object being to provide a machine of this character that will perform the work of at least two or three other machines and obtain all of the advantages of a plural blow, solid die header, a so-called independent reheading ma-l chine, and an independent trimming machine, and the like, f

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists of certain features of novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out wherein patentable novelty is claimed, it being understood that within the scope of what hereinafter is claimed, various changes in form, proportion, size and minor details of the construction may be `made without departing from the spirit or modifying any of the advantages of the invention.

The following is a description of one embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures; and

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a header or upsetting machine embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of a portion thereof, illustrating particularly a portion of the feed and transfer mechanisms;

Figure 3 is an elevation of a portion of the feed device;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the gate, punch block and associated parts as seen from a point indicated in Figure 4 by the arrow 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the machine through the center of the first series of tools and upon the general line 5-5 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the machine through the center of another series of tools, and upon the general line 6-6 in Figure 1;

Figure '1 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the transfer mechanism and associated parts;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side view of a portion thereof when looking in the direction of the arrows at line 8-8 in Figure '1;

Figure 9 is a view of the blank as presented to the first die and punch;

Figures 10 and 11 are views of the first die, two of the punches that co-operate therewith, and the workpiece therein as shaped by said die and punches;

Figure 12 is a view of a succeeding die in the series and one of the punches that co-operates therewith, with the workpiece positioned therebetween; and

Figure 13 is a view of the same die and another punch (trimming) with the workpiece positioned therein, and as it appears after the operation of the trimming punch thereon.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates the body of the machine, within which is a crank shaft 11 carrying a balance wheel 12 and a slidably mounted gate 13, which is actuated by the crank shaft through the connection 14.

In the forward end of the gate 13 is a punch slide 16 that is vertically actuated by mechanism 15, well known in the art.

Secured to the body 10 is a feed bracket 17, having feed rolls 18 associated therewith, whereby an intermittent movement is imparted to a. rod length.

In operation, as the crank shaft 11 is rotated, a reciprocatory motion is imparted to the gate 13 and the punch slide 16 at the forward end of the stroke occupies a temporarily fixed position thereon. During the next return movement of the gate, the punch slide is moved transversely on the gate, so that at the completion of its next forward stroke, the punch slide occupies temporarily a different fixed position relative thereto.

Connected with the punch slide is a punch block 19, having mounted therein a plurality of punches 20, 21, 22 and 23, these being arranged so that the punches 21 and 23 are under the punches 20 and 22, but in a different horizontal Each punch is secured in position in the punch block by the screws 24 or the like. As arranged,

these punchesconstitute two series of two punches each, but an increased number of punches in each series and the number of series is permissible within this invention.

The details of the mechanism whereby the punch holder is secured to the punch slide is not shown or described, not being essential to this invention.

Secured to the punch slide, and directly below the punch 23, is a discharge tube 25. the opening therethrough registering with an opening 28 in the side of the punch 23.

Secured to the body in front of a backing plate 28, is a die block 27 supporting the dies 29 and 30, arranged in different horizontal planes, substantially as shown in Figure 7. Also mounted in the die block is a cut-oi! die 31, and in front thereof is a stop arm 32, which may be of the fixed or movable type, as seems 'most desirable. Movable across the face of the cut-ofi' die is a knife 33, which also acts as a device to carry blanks to the first die.

In operation a wire rod is advanced, as is usual, between the feed rolls 18 and through the cutof! die 31, to the stop arm 34. At this time the gate is in its retracted position, substantially as shown in Figure 1. The knife 33 now moves across the face of the cut-ofi die 31, severing the projecting portion of the wire rod and carrying it into line with the opening in the die 29.` This severed portion now becomes f' the blank 35. While so held the gate 13 moves forward and the punch 20 pushes the blank into the die 29, during which time the cut-oil knife is withdrawn to a position ready for the next succeeding cutoil' operation. After the punch 20 has projected the blank 35 into the die a predetermined distance, continued movement thereof forms a cone shaped end on the blank, substantially as shown in Figure 10, the punch and die in this iigure being in their relative positions at the limit of the stroke of the punch. Thereafter, the gate is withdrawn leaving the coned blank in the die 29, and before the completion of the next forward stroke of the gate the punch slide 16 is moved transversely thereof and presenting the punch 21 in line with the blank, which is engaged thereby and the coned head is shaped substantially as shown in Figure 11, the punch and die in this ligure likewise being in their relative positions at the limit of the stroke of the punch 21. The gate is now again withdrawn and the blank, which has been subjected to two blows while in the die 29, is ejected from said die and by a transfer mechanism, hereinafter described, is moved into line with the die 30. During this last operation, the punch slide 16 has been moved transversely ofthe gate 13 and the punch 22 engages the blank and pushes it into the die and the inner end extruded as the punch moves forward. The purpose of this extruding being to reduce the diameter of the shank of the blank to one suitable for rolling a thread thereon, the outside diameter of which will be approximately that of the diameter of the shank. In the meantime another blank has been presented to the die 29 and the head coned as above described. lllhe gate new returns, the slide 16 is again moved transversely of the gate, and the punches 2l and 23 are respectively brought into alignment with the blanks in the dies 29 and 30.

The punch 23 as shown is a trimming punch, and the round head of the blank outside of the face of the die 30 is trimmed so as to be polygonal in cross section to form a head either square, hexagon or octagon, as may be desired, and thus completing the blank.

While the parts are in the position last above described, the completed blank 35 is pushed through the opening 26 in the punch 23 and drops into the chute 25 and thus led into a receptacle conveniently arranged to receive it.

Heretofore operations upon a blank in a plural blow header have been limited to such operations as may be obtained with a single die. 'I'his obviously limits the capacity of the machine. To illustrate, if the upsettings required necessitate a flow of metal in such volume as to require more than two blows, the blank has been partially upset in one header and thereafter subjected to operations in another machine known as a reheader. Again, it has not heretofore been possible to utilize an extruding die as a support for a blank while the head is being trimmed. By the instant arrangement of a series of dies and punches the blank may be subjected to as many pressure blows as is required and this with a single compact machine, such as shown herein, thus minimizing handling of the workpieces or blanks and accomplishing in one machine what has heretofore required two or more machines.

Fixed to the body 10 is a bracket 37, in which is a stud 38, upon which the gear segment 38 is mounted. An oscillatory movement is imparted to this gear segment from a cam 40 on the crank shaft 11 through a bell crank 4l, carrying a cam roll 42 in contact with the periphery of the cam and between the other arm of which and the segment 39, is the adjustable connection 43.

The coil springs 44 ilxed at one end to a post 8l, exert a tension so as to always maintain the cam roll 42 in contact with the cam 40.

Journaled in the bracket 37 is a crank shaft 45, having a pinion 46 thereon, the teeth of which mesh into those of the gear segment 39 (Figure 7). Fixed in an arm of the rock shaft 45 is a stud 47 which forms a pivotal connection for the finger carrier 48 and the rock shaft 45. On the bracket 37 is a pivot bracket 49 which is adjustable in two directions by the screws 50 and secured in its adjusted positions by bolts 5l, or the like. On the pivot bracket 49 is a pivot pin 52, which projects through an opening 53 in the finger carrier 48. and having a nut 54 or other suitable means on the other end to prevent lateral movement of the ilnger carrier 48 thereon. Movably mounted on the outer end of the nger carrier 48 are companion fingers 55, which are moved to their inward position by a suitable spring 56 or the like. I

'Ihe extreme limits of the oscillatory motion of the shaft l45 is determined on one side by an adjustable guide block 57 and at the other side by a stop screw 58 in the bracket 59. The block 57 is pivotally mounted upon the pin 60 in the bracket 37 and held in its adjusted positions by a screw 61 engaging a stud 62 that passes through an opening in the block 57 of greater cross sectional area than that of the stud 62. Thus the llimits of movement of rock shaft 45 is adjustably determined. as above indicated.

In one position the notches in the inside of the opposite faces of the cam finger 55 register with the opening in the die 29, and in another position register with the opening in the die 30, substantialiy as shown in Figure 7. Manipulation of the screws 50 changes the relative position of the pivot pin 52 and thereby the path of movement of the fingers 55 and length of stroke thereof. The timing of this transfer mechanism is such that after the blank 35 is partially ejected from the die 29, the fingers 55 are moved toward the blank and snap over the shank thereof, substantially as shown in Figure 8, in rear of the head. The fingers retain their grasp on the shank during the further ejection of the blank. After the blank is fully ejected, the lingers 55 are moved away from the die 29 and the blank carried into line with the opening in the die 30. This movement taking place during the withdrawal of the gate, so that at the next forward movement of the gate a new blank is cut from the wire rod, transferred to the die 29, and the punch 22 engages the end of the blank in the fingers and moves the same into the opening in the die 30. As soon as the blank has entered the die a sufficient distance the fingers are withdrawn and are not presented to the blank in the die 29 until after the second movement of the gate thereafter. Hence there is no action of the transfer fingers 55 until after that forward movement of the gate that presents the punches 2l and 23 to the blank in the dies 29 and 30 respectively.

The adjustable pivot permits a variable length of stroke of the fingers due to the fact that the same may be moved toward and away from the center of the crank shaft 45 and its path of movement varied by reason of its lateral movement. This assures an exact registration of the blank with the openings in the dies at the limits of movement of the fingers 55 assisted by the adjustable stop devices, that is, the block 57 and screw 58.

The blank is ejected from the die 29 through a conventional form of knockout mechanism, which comprises generally a knockout pin 63, a knockout rod 64 actuated in one direction by a rock lever 65, a cam` 66 on the crank shaft 1l, which actuates a rock arm 67 pivotally mounted on the body 10, a slide 68, a link 69, and adjustable pin 70 which engages the rock lever 65. Thus in timed relation with the upsetting and transfer mechanism the knockout rod 64 and knockout pin 63, eject the blank from the die. The next blank inserted in the die pushes the knockout pin 63 and knockout rod 64 rearwardly and this in turn rocks the rock lever 65 until it engages the stop screw 71.

The mechanism for ejecting the blank from the die 30 comprises generally the knockout rod 72, knockout pin 73, rock lever 74 which is mounted on an auxiliary bracket 75 fixed to the feed bracket 17, a cam 76 on the shaft l1, pivotally mounted rock arm 77 carrying an adjustable screw 78, a reciprocating rod 79, and a spring 80, between a collar on the rod 79 and a rod bearing which exerts a pressure to hold the rod against the set screw 78 and the rock arm 77 in such position as to maintain it in contact with the cam 76. When the trimming punch 23 is in substantially the position shown in Figure 13, the lever 74 actuated through the rod 79 moves the knockout rod 72 and knockout pin 73 forward and ejects the blank from the die 30 through the trimming punch 23 and opening 26 into the discharge tube 25, as above described.

The knockout mechanisms, contrary to the usual practice, are not actuated at each forward movement of the gate but only after the punches 2l and 23 have performed their operation, which in the embodiment of the machine shown herein is after every other movement of the gate.

The above disclosure is given merely as one embodiment of the present invention, which is not to be considered as limiting the invention, the scope thereof being determined by an understanding of the present disclosure as one embodiment thereof and as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A header or upsetting machine having a plurality of solid stationary dies; a plurality of punches; and means for actuating the punches to present them successively into register and in contact with the blanks or workpieces in the dies and perform multiple upsetting operations on a single blank or workpiece while in each die; and means for transferring the blank from one die to another after the completion of the said multiple operations thereon.

2. A header or upsetting machine having a plurality of solid stationary dies; a plurality of punches; and means for actuating the punches to present them successively into register and in contact with the blanks or workpieces in the dies and perform multiple upsetting operations on a single blank or workpiece while in each die; and means that grasps the blank or workpiece, and transfers it to and from said dies after the action of the last of the plurality of punches upon the blank in each of the dies.

3. A header or upsetting machine; a cut-off die; a plurality of solid dies; means for presenting a blank to the first of said dies; a plurality of series of upsetting tools, means for actuating the tools whereby they are successively brought into cont-act with the blanks or workpieces in the dies, and perform multiple operations on each workpiece while in each die; and means, that grasp the blank and transfer it from the first to the second die after the operation thereon of one of the last of the said series of tools.

4. A header or upsetting machine; a cut-01T die; a plurality of solid dies; means for severing a blank from a rod length at the cut-ofi' die and transferring it to the first of said dies; a plurality of series of tools, which are successively brought into register with the dies, whereby multiple operations are performed on each workpiece while in each die; and oscillating means for transferring the blank from the first to the second die after the completion of the operation thereon by the last of the series of tools.

5. A header or upsetting machine; a cut-off die; a plurality of solid dies; means for severing a blank from a rod length at the cut-off die and transferring it to the first of said dies; a plurality of series of tools, which are successively brought into register with the dies, whereby multiple operations are performed on each workpiece while in each die; and oscillating means for transferring the blank from the first to the second die after the completion of the operation thereon by the last of the series of tools, and means for varying the length and relative position of the movement of said oscillating means.

6. In a header, upsetting machine or the like; a series of stationary dies; a plurality of tools movable toward and away therefrom and successively brought into register with the blanks in said dies; transfer mechanism that grasps the blank and carries it from one die to the next succeeding die comprising a rock member; a finger carrier having a movable connection therewith; transfer fingers associated with the carrier; and an adjustable pivot for the finger carrier located between the rock member and fingers whereby the position and extent of movement of the transfer fingers may be varied.

'1. In a header, upsetting machine or the like; a series of stationary dies; a plurality of tools movable toward and away therefrom and successively brought into register with a blank therein; transfer mechanism that grasps the blank and carries it from one die to the next succeeding die comprising a rock member; a finger carrier having a movable connection therewith; transfer fingers associated with the carrier; a pivot for the finger carrier; and means, other than the rock member, for variably limiting the extent of movement of the fingers and whereby the position and extent of movement of the transfer fingers may be varied.

8. A header, upsetting machine or the like; a series of stationary dies; a plurality of tools movable toward and away therefrom and successively brought into register with a blank therein; transfer mechanism that grasps the blank and carries it from one die to the next succeeding die irrespective of the space between the dies, comprising a rock shaft; a finger carrier having a pivotal connection therewith; transfer fingers associated with the carrier; a pivot for the finger carrier located between the rock shaft and fingers; and means for varying the position of the said pivot.

9. A header, upsetting machine or the like; a series of stationary dies; a plurality of tools movable toward and away therefrom and successively brought into register with ablank therein; transfer mechanism that grasps the blank and carries it from one die to the next succeeding die irrespective of the space between the dies, comprising in part a fixed member, a rock shaft, adjustable members on the fixed member that limit the movement of the rock shaft, a finger carrier pivotally connected with the rock shaft, transfer fingers on the outer end of the finger carrier, an adjustable pivot bracket, and a pivot pin thereon forming a fulcrum for the finger carrier between the crank shaft and fingers.

10. A header, upsetting machine, or the like; a series of stationary dies; a plurality of tools movable toward and away therefrom and successively brought into register with a blank therein; transfer mechanism that grasps the blank and carries it from one die to the next succeeding die irrespective of the space between the dies, comprising a rock shaft; a finger carrier having a pivotal connection therewith; transfer fingers associated with the carrier; and means for varying the length of the path of movement of said fingers.

1l. A header, upsetting machine 'or the like; a series of stationary dies; a plurality of tools movable toward and away therefrom and successively brought into register with a blank therein; transfer mechanism that grasps the blank and carries it from one die to the next succeeding die irrespective of the space between the dies, comprising a rock shaft; a finger carrier having a pivotal connection therewith; transfer fingers associated with the carrier; and means for varying the relative position of the movement of said fingers.

12. A header or upsetting machine having a plurality of solid dies, one die being an extruding die, a plurality of series of punches, one or more of which are upsetting punches, that successively deliver blows upon the blanks or workpieces in the dies and whereby multiple operations are performed on a single blank or workpiece in each die, the action of said punches being such that while a blank or workpiece is being upset by plural blows in one die the extruding blank or workpiece is being extruded in another die under pressure from one of said punches, other than an upsetting punch and transfer mechanism that grasps the workpiece at one die and carries it to another die.

13. A header or upsetting machine having a plurality of solid dies, one of which is a trimming die, a plurality of series of punches, one of which is a trimming punch, and others upsetting punches, the latter of which successively deliver blows upon the blanks or workpieces in some of the dies and whereby multiple operations are performed on a single blank or workpiece in each of said dies, the action of said punches being such that while a blank or workpiece is being upset by plural blows in one die another blank or workpiece is being trimmed in the trimming die and transfer mechanism that grasps the workpiece at one die and carries it to another die.

14. A header or upsetting machine having a plurality of solid stationary dies; a plurality of series of punches, some of which are upsetting punches; and means for actuating the punches to present them successively into register and in contact with the blanks or workpieces in the dies and whereby each blank or workpiece will be contacted by a. plural number of the upsetting punches while in each die; and means for ejecting the workpiece or blank from one die while the same is in register therewith and the blanks or workpieces remain in the other dies, said ejecting means performing its function during only a portion of the movement of the punches and transfer mechanism that grasps the workpiece at one die and carries it to another die.

RICHARD XLESTER. WILCOX. 

